Patent US646929A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3753485A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3753485A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Branching device and guide means for high-speed tray conveyors
Assignee: FROMME
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Filing: 1972-02-09
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Granted: 1973-08-21
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Expires: 1992-02-09
Abstract
Abstract Branching device and guide means for a high speed tray conveyor where each tray has in its bottom an hourglass-shaped central guide groove and the conveyor includes in its bend sections and branching sections groups or horizontal guide rollers engaging the tray grooves. In the branching section these guide roller groups are arranged to be raised and lowered by solenoids in staggered timing to permit a rapid succession of trays travelling through the branching section while the latter switches in and out.
Inventors
- 👤 H Fromme
- 👤 E Lehberger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 05:25
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G13/00; B65G13/08; B65G13/10; B65G47/00; B65G47/74; B65G47/76; B65G47/766
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
181 words
A branching device and guide means for a high speed tray conveyor with successive load-carrying trays propelled by supporting drive wheels along a conveyor comprising: straight conveyor sections, curved sections and branching sections, said curved sections and branching stations arranged between said straight conveyor sections; a plurality of load-carrying trays; each tray provided in its bottom with a common guide-groove means, shaped to permit engagement with matingly shaped horizontal guide rollers, to permit said trays to travel selectively in succession over said straight and curved conveyor sections; said conveyor sections each including at least one group of horizontal guide rollers and liftable and sinkable guide roller supports; said rollers mounted on said supports for at least partial engagements with said guide groove means of said trays when said rollers are lifted; and means to actuate selectively each said group of said supports in said branching sections to raise and lower said guide rollers into and from at least a partial mating engagement with said guide grooves of said trays to direct said trays into said branching sections or to avoid it.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
181 words
A branching device and guide means for a high speed tray conveyor with successive load-carrying trays propelled by supporting drive wheels along a conveyor comprising: straight conveyor sections, curved sections and branching sections, said curved sections and branching stations arranged between said straight conveyor sections; a plurality of load-carrying trays; each tray provided in its bottom with a common guide-groove means, shaped to permit engagement with matingly shaped horizontal guide rollers, to permit said trays to travel selectively in succession over said straight and curved conveyor sections; said conveyor sections each including at least one group of horizontal guide rollers and liftable and sinkable guide roller supports; said rollers mounted on said supports for at least partial engagements with said guide groove means of said trays when said rollers are lifted; and means to actuate selectively each said group of said supports in said branching sections to raise and lower said guide rollers into and from at least a partial mating engagement with said guide grooves of said trays to direct said trays into said branching sections or to avoid it.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said guide groove means in the bottom of said tray has a single central longitudinal guide groove suitable for left-hand and right-hand conveyor path curvatures in the general outline of an hourglass.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said at least one group of the horizontal guide rollers of the branching station are subdivided into at least two groups of rollers which are each mounted on a roller support that is capable of being raised into and lowered out of engagement with the tray groove.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device as defined in claim 3, wherein each roller group is separately switchable, the movement of the roller groups being staggered in time in accordance with the tray motion through the branching station.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
A device as defined in claim 4, said means to actuate selectively each group of the roller supports including a solenoid-operated parallelogram linkage; and a tray actuated switching means; the solenoids responding to said tray-actuated switching means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
104 words
A branching device and guide means for a tray-conveyor with trays as claimed in claim 1, said conveyor sections each including: vertical lateral support profiles; transverse connecting members linking together said profiles; two longitudinal frame profiles carried by said transverse connecting members; a plurality of transverse shafts journaled in said profiles; longitudinally displaceable belt pulleys; drive wheels on the said shafts on the outside of said profiles to carry, propell and laterally guide said trays; a main drive shaft; gussetts with journals for said main drive shaft mounted to said connecting members; and a rotary power source connected with said pulley by a belt.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
68 words
A branching device and guide means for a tray-conveyor with trays as claimed in claim 6; said shaft subdivided in the areas of said curved conveyor sections into several shaft sections interconnected by universal joints; a plurality of drive pulleys mounted on said shaft one under each belt pulley for frictional engagement by said main shaft and belts on said pluralIty of shafts connecting with said belt pulleys.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
A branching device and guide means for a tray-conveyor with trays as claimed in claim 7, said sheels in said curved sections each having a reduced diameter to provide a smaller circumferential drive speed at the same rotational speed to slow down the said trays on the inner ends.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
179 words
A branching device and guide means for a tray-conveyor with trays as claimed in claim 1, said roller supports of said branching sections connected to pivot links, including pivot pins; a panel and C-shaped brackets attached to said panel, the lower pivot points of said links being arranged on said C-brackets; each said roller support forming a parallelogram linkage associated with said links; a connecting rod attached to one of said links, a solenoid operating said rod; a swivel mount; a support roller carried by said swivel mount; a control lever linked with one end to said swivel mount and connected with said parallelogram; abutment columns defining the power position of said supports; a proximity switch controlling said solenoid to lower each said roller support, whereby when one of said trays arrives at said branching section and is to continue through to the next straight section, bypassing the branching section, said roller supports remain out of engagement with guide grooves of said tray, said support rollers pointing in the straight line of said conveyor sections past said drive wheels.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
A branching device and guide means for a tray-conveyor with trays as claimed in claim 9, each said straight conveyor section comprising flanged wheels; each curved conveyor section including plain drive wheels, said flanged wheels and said drive wheels carrying said trays, whereby said respective group of guide rollers provides positive guidance.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
66 words
A branching device and guide means for a tray-conveyor with trays as claimed in claim 9, further comprising means to deflect each said tray selectively into a curved section; whereby said solenoids raise the said parallelogram linkages of said roller supports into engagement with the respective said groove of said tray and to swivel said support rollers into the direction of the respective said branching section.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
69 words
A branching device and guide means for a tray-conveyor with trays as claimed in claim 9, said device comprising in each said branching section a proximity swtich, said tray including in its bottom a projection for actuation of said switch, whereby upon passing the first switching roller support, said support is immediately lowered, while the subsequent roller support still guides said tray toward the exit of section. branching section.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
A branching device and guide means for a tray-conveyor with trays as claimed in claim 1, said tray having shaped permitting them to be vertically stacked upon each other with their bottom protruding each the next lower tray.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1732376A
Cited
US3613864A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-08-20 | 1977-02-19 | 1977-08-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-08-20 | 1981-02-19 | 1981-08-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-08-20 | 1985-02-19 | 1985-08-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |